[this article is sponsored by Ski City]

Alta ski area near Salt Lake City, UT – aka Ski City – is legendary.

The place averages 563″ of snowfall per year, they’ve already seen 228″ of snowfall this season and they’re sitting on an 85″ snowpack.  And it’s only January 19th…

Alta is on track to have one of its best years in recent memory.

When you go to Alta, you’ll want to hit all its best features.  We’ve compiled a list of Alta’s best lift, run, bar, and restaurant to keep you on track.

THE BEST OF ALTA, UTAH:

***

Best Lift:

Wildcat

Wildcat is one of the very few remaining classic fixed-grip double chairs in the USA.  This old chair brings back the nostalgia of the past along with the positive, mellow vibe they delivered chair ride after chair ride.  Day in, day out.

You get on this chair and life slows down.  You watch people ripping directly underneath you.  You gaze at the impressive Mt. Superior over your right shoulder.

Unfortunately, Wildcat has been assigned to extinction (Alta’s Improvement Plan).  A high speed quad chair will replace this chair soon.  It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Alta to find replacement parts for such an old chairlift.  Get to Alta and ride this classic before its gone.

Check out what big-time pro freeskier Sage Cattabriga-Alosa has to say about Wildcat:

When I roll into Alta, the first thing I’m thinking about is ‘what’s going on at Wildcat.  When I head there, I never know what’s gonna happen.  You never know what you’re gonna get riding up that lift.  Almost always I ride up solo the first lap but it doesn’t last very long.  All of the sudden you see somebody hucking something, you some new feature, some new jump line, and it’s so easy to link up with people because the terrain is right underneath the lift.  You see someone you know and you can yell down to them and you link up with them on the next lap.  Whenever it snows or whenever I get thinking about it, I can’t wait to get back to Wildcat.  It’s a magic place.  It’s my favorite spot.” – Sage Cattabriga-Alosa

***

Best Run: 

High Rustler

This one is simple.  This run is long and has a ‘perfect’ fall line.

The High Rustler is a top to bottom run that people haul ass on.  Skiers line up at the bottom, beers in hand, to  watch you rip it top to bottom.  An epicly long powder run on a the right day.

Getting there isn’t simple, but the reward is worth it.

“Getting there is half the battle … traversing a narrow ridgeline, rounding the mountain top … and finally, a fabulous run with few skiers … It’s steep, powder is usually deep and the views can’t be beat.” – Ski Magazine

***

Best On-Mountain Bar:

The Peruvian Bar 

This place is gorgeous.  It’s worth walking in here just for the vibe and decor.

The Peruvian Bar located in the Alta Peruvian Lodge doesn’t open until 3:30pm, which is a good thing.  It forces you to ski until at least 3:15 before quaffing your regularly scheduled aprés ski beverage.

The people here are consistently terrific.

There are some great deals on beers in the Peruvian Bar:

• $4 Epic Escape IPAs (blue cans)
• $3 Bohemian Lagers (gold cans)
• $10 PBR Pitchers
• Free Hot Appetizers starting at 3:30pm until they’re gone (usually potstickers, mozzerella sticks, pigs in a blanket, etc)

***

Best On-Mountain Restaurant:

Goldminer’s Daughter

Best pizza in Salt Lake City (as per reported by numerous locals).  What more do you want?

Unreal views of Mt. Superior from inside the restaurant/bar.  The southern side of the building is all glass and gorgeous.

Views from the High Rustler run all the way to to Mt. Superior.

Good vibe in here.  A classic aprés ski spot with a terrific bar.

No matter where you end up at Alta, you’re gonna have a ball.

 This place is home to copious amounts of powder (563″ per year on average), incredible history (founded in 1939), legendary skiers (Sage Cattabriga-Alosa), legendary lifts (Wildcat), and plentiful good times.